by Andrew McSteen

Lawrence Okoye, the former Whitgift School student who swapped his Olympic discus career for the world of professional American Football, is set to make his debut for the San Francisco 49ers tonight.

The official pre-season of the NFL starts today for the West Coast side when they face the Denver Broncos at 6pm (local time) in Candlestick Park, San Francisco.

Like pre-season friendlies in football in England, these games involve teams not expecting to play each other in the upcoming season and are a time for coaches and players to practise tactics, get match fitness and try out players.

However, for 21-year-old Okoye, it could mark a turning point in his sporting and personal life. If he is given a run-out this evening it will show that his coach, Jim Harbaugh, is seriously considering him for a place on the practice squad if not the 53-man strong playing squad list for the 2013 season - and he will go one step further than his father, Lawrence Senior, who played the game up to college level.

After the ‘rookie mini-camp’ which took place in early July, the full 49ers training camp started at the end of July and was the first time that nearly all of the 100 players in contention for the full 53-man squad for the 49ers were together and in pads taking, and giving, hits.

There is a feeling amongst many neutrals, media observers and, of course, the 49ers franchise, of rooting for Okoye to make it and of enjoying watching, what some have called, an ‘experiment’ taking place in front of them succeed.

Okoye’s Twitter account status currently says he is in “transition” - a word that many coaches and media representatives in the United States have called his quest to move from discus to the NFL and this transition could be complete as we wake up tomorrow

At a recent 49ers media call at their training facility, Okoye kept using the word “excited” - evidence that his progression is going to plan.

Okoye, who has been given squad number 78 by his side, has been identified as a ‘defensive lineman’, a position that will make use of his physical assets and he has been mentored by line coach Jim Tomsula, who spent time earlier in his coaching career in Europe including a stint at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre with the now-defunct London Monarchs.

“I’m really enjoying how things are going and I’m really happy to be here,” Okoye told local media last week.

“I’ve got great guys I’m working with and it makes a world of a difference. I don’t know how I’d be if I were somewhere else.

“I think they’re giving me the best opportunity to make something of this, so I’m really enjoying it. I’ve got to use the physical abilities I’ve got, use my length, and use my power, my strength and my speed.”

49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio spoke to local San Francisco media ahead of the match yesterday and confirmed that Okoye has progressed quickly since moving stateside.

"He has been really making strides out here," Fangio said.

"He has gotten better from day one to whatever day is now, he has gotten better. But it's all relative."

Fangio took questions on how many ‘snaps’ Okoye will face - the process of the 49ers quarterback starting an offensive move and in which he will work hard to fend off attackers getting to the ball - strongly suggesting that he will set foot on the turf.

The amount of snaps he will face could be more than expected as the 49ers first choice in his position - Justin Smith - has been ruled out of the game with a broken finger although two other players are ahead of Okoye in the pecking order for the right defensive end position - Demarcus Dobbs and Tony Jerod-Eddie.

"We'll try getting him into the game Thursday," Fangio said. "How much? We don't know yet."

Okoye couldn’t hide his excitement about the possibility of making his debut, but was cerebral enough to pick his words carefully.

"It's going to be interesting to be in front of the Candlestick crowd and be at my first football game," he said.

"I'm enjoying the ride," Okoye told the Mercury News. "Sometimes I leave the field and my ears are ringing, but it's a good feeling.

"I enjoy being a ‘bad football player’ at the moment,” he said in reference to coach Tomsula’s light-hearted, complimentary answer when he was asked how far Lawrence had progressed in his development - Tomsula stressed ‘football player’ was the key phrase, explaining that Lawrence wasn’t one when he joined the 49ers.

As the saying goes - ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ - and Lawrence took to his Twitter account ahead of the game and said “as if we're in August already? Feels like it was February a week ago!”